We are wise women with decades of life experience and have become elders in our communities. We have much to share and still much to learn on this journey. We have been maidens and mothers and are now crones. Becoming one with the wise woman within and redefining the concept of crone needs mutual support and some action.
What is a crone, you ask? A crone is a postmenopausal woman who is ready and willing to acknowledge her age, her wisdom, her power. Together, we are women who speak our minds from a place of inner wisdom and experience. Crone (or hag) is defined as “holy woman” in early English. Crones, hags, and witches frequently were leaders, midwives, and healers in their communities. However, the meanings of these three words were distorted and eventually reversed during the 300 years of the Inquisition when the male-dominated church wanted to eliminate women holding positions of power. Women identified as witches, who were often older women, were tortured and burned, and the words witch, crone, and hag took on negative connotations and has become synonymous with old, wizened, wrinkled, and worthless.
Friends of the Forest is helping to re-claim the positive meanings of these words through our new program, Rising of the Crones. Led by Nancy DeNicolo, our art sherpa and mama crone of our organization, we are providing a safe space for kick-ass creative women over 60 to come together to support each other and tap into the ancient crone’s attributes of wisdom, compassion, transformation, healing laughter, and bawdiness.
We come together to rethink retirement, share our wisdom, let go of expectations, learn to care for ourselves as well as for others, grieve the losses as they come, acknowledge our age, step out of our comfort zone, find our true, authentic selves, live with authenticity, and embrace the crone within us.
What You Can Expect (this offering is exclusively for women over 60)
NOTE: This offering is being held on the grounds of High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center AND WILL NOT INVOLVE EQUINE PARTICIPATION.
Reflective walks in the woods, meditation, journaling, and movement are all part of this day.
Opening Crone Circle to introduce ourselves and share sentiments.
We will explore the theme, “Journaling Your Journey of Aging” and how to express ourselves by creating a nature journal using watercolors, words, and other art by opening our senses for more profound observations to reconnect with nature and our more-than-human world.
We will gather in our Crone Circle to share our thoughts on the day and gain sister support and accompaniment on our journeys.
Please bring a small appetizer to share with the group for a potluck brunch.
$35 investment.
This event is limited to 12 women age 60 and over.